Electric bell



May 19, 1925, 1,537,966

L. E. RICHMOND ELECTRIC BELL Azi/5 j L. E. RICHMOND `ELECTRIC BELLFiledV May 8, 1919 @i Q '"2 474 4f 47 L@ 4 f5 'Hlhrgd l/II f] /3 4Z i;

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L. E. RICHMOND ELECTRIC BELL F1ed May 8. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inn d un

Patented May 19, 1925.

kUNITI-:o STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS E. RICHMOND, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,y AssIGNOn, BY Mnsnn ASSIGNMENTS,To

THEAUTO'CALL COMPANY, OF SHELBY, oHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

ELECTRIC BELL.

Appncauon ined Mays, 1919; serial No. 295,688.

To all iii/2.0m may concern.'

Be it known that I, Lotus E. vRionnoNn, aI citizen of the United States,residing` at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio,rhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in EleztricBells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric bells, such as are used for signaland alarm systems. n

One object of the invention is to provide a simple electric bell havingan exposed gong and provided with operating inechanism which is enclosedwithin ay sealed cas- .ing so as to be proof against water, moisture,gases, fumes, andthe like. A further object of theinventionis toprovidea bell of this kind adapted to receive gongs ofy varying sizesand consequently of more or less powerful and penetra-ting sound, andwhich bell is also adapted for direct connection to a wall or othersupport for open wiring, or to an outlet or junction box for conduitwiring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a waterproof bell whichis suitable for use either as a vibrating or as a sii le stroke bell,and either with direct or alternating current, and which is etiicient asregards the magnetic field and etlectswhen used with alternating);lcurrent.v A further object of the invention is to provide anelec`tric'bell whose working parts are supported by a frame of simpleconstruction' capable of being assembled Without soldering, riveting,welding, or other expensive operations.

kA lfurther object of the invention is to improve the mounting of thearmature arm with relation to the magnet core, as-to avoid the'formationof any gap between .said arm yand thepoles of the core when the circuitis closed.

"Afurthe'r object of the invention is tok provide a simple and improvedarrangement for preventing the armature arm from sticking to themagnetic pole by the effect of residuall magnetism thereinlland whichconstruction is durable and will withstand the severe serviceencountered in use.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and improve theautomaticcon*y tact utilized when* the bell operates as a vi bratin'gbell. f i

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

Inthe drawings, Fig. l represents a central sectional elevation throughone forni of bell embodying the invention and showing the same attachedto a junction boit; F 2 is a similar section through another form orbell base; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the bell; Fig. 4 is a detailelevation illustrating a portion of the bell base shown in Fig. 2; Fig.5 is a rear elevation of the bell with the junction box and other partsomitted to expose interior parts; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of thejunction boi: shown in Fig. l; F 7 is a detail rear elevationillustratingT the vibrating contacts; Fig. 8 is a detail Sectional viewon the line 8 8, Fig. l; Fig. 9 is a detail side elevationillustratingthe means for securing together the bell casing and junctionbox or bell base; Fig.- lO is a detail view of the armature arm andcontacts thereon; Fig. ll is a. detail sectional view on the line ll-ll,Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fie. l2 is a detailperspective view of the magnet frame?, F 13 is a similar viewillustrating the parts of said frame prior to assemblyv thereon, andFig. 14; is a sectional view of :i compression contact.

The bell illustrated in the drawings com-V prises a hollow casing orframe l having an inner chamber 2, and which ma'v be of anj7 suitableshape but which is shown as of generallv circular form in frontelevation, as shown in Fig. 3. The front of said casing is closed by awall 3 having a vertically eX- tending centrallv disposed thickenedportion or rib 4. The annular wall or flange 5 of the casing, at itsrear edge, is formed to` fit either a shallow base or closing plate 6for open wiring,r or the wall of a conduit or outlet box 7, as may bedesired. Those parts which are to be secured directly to the wall orother support, such as the base 6 and boX 7, are provided on their rearfaces with several shallow spacing pads 8 and near their upper portionswith perforated ears 9 to receive bolts for securing them to thesupport. On either side said base 6 and box 7 are also provided withscrews 10 pivoted thereto on pins il, said screws having nuts 12 heldpermanently thereon by suitably Iit) deforming the outer ends of thescrews. then the bell casing is pushed into place on its seat on thebase 6 orbox. as the case may be, said screws are swung into positionbetween the ears 13 on the bell asing and the nuts 12 are screwed up tosecurely fasten the parts. This connection is easily made and ena-blesthe bell mechanism to be readily removed from its supporting part whendesired. In installing a signal system `the full wiring system can beiirst laid in place with all junction boxes or wall bases closed byblank plates, as is usual, and the bells can be later installed asdesired or when needed by merely removingl the blank plates and puttingthe bells in place.

Base 6 near its bottom and on its inner face is preferably provided witha rib or raised portion 14;. forn'iing a pocket or recess 15 adjacent tothe openings 16 for the lead wires. Conduit box T may be provided withone or more .openings for lead wires closed by ordinary knock-outs 17 orthreaded to receive conduit. as indicated at 18. as desired. Indeed, anyarrangement is suitable in which the connection of the conduit to thejunction box may be made water-tight. 1S*L represents a sealing gasket.

To the front wall of the casing is secured the gong 19. Said gong ispreferably protected against blows from above and against water or otherliquids dropping or depositing thereon by an apron member 2O secured bythe screws 21 to the bell casing. The gong is supported by the bellcasing, such as by being mounted upon a hollow post 22 to which it issecured by a bolt :23 threaded into an opening 2l in the rib et. Theapron 2O may have a tongue portion 25 depending in front of the rib Ll,so that the bolt 23 can be passed through the opening in said apron andthen into the bell casing. The apron thereby serves as an additionalgong support.

Gongs of various sizes may be readily secured to the same bell casing,the only essential requirement being that the upper rim portion of thegong which is to be struck by the hammer or clapper should always lie atthe same point, regardless of the size of the gong. Various sizes ofgongs may be attached by locating several threaded openings 24; forreceiving the bolt and the cor responding openings in the tongue 25, atdifferent elevations along the rib i. or7 different sizes of aprons maybe used for the different gongs.

The upper portion of the box or casing is provided with an inner crosswall 26 and two parallel vertically extending inner side w ils 2?forming a narrow outer chamber 2S opening out through a vertical slot 29in the frontcasing wall. A vertical portion of the wall 26 serves as aseat to receive and support a bearing for the shaft of the hammer orclapper 30. Said bearing comprises two hollow members 31, 32 providedrespective ly with an interlocking rib and groove, as shown at 33, andheld together and to the wall 26 by bolts 34. Mounted to rotate in anopening between said bearing members is a short shaft 35 provided with anon-circular reduced portion 3G to which is secured the shank of theclapper or hammer. Said shank is slotted longitudinally at its end andis slipped laterally into place on the shaft, after which it is securedin place by peening over the ends of the shank or soldering or weldingit in place, as desired. On either side of said shank the shaft 35 andbearing members are provided with interlocking collars and grooves 3Tforming a tortuous passage way to prevent entrance of moisture into thechamber 2, the joints being further sealed if desired by felt washers37a.

The clapper or hammer on its outer end is provided with a striking head38 formed by perforating an enlarged circular portion of the shank andsecuring thereto by a rivet 39 one or more washers Al0, as may bedesired. This construction enables the weight of the hammer to beadjusted by using the proper number and weight of washers for anyparticular size of gong or strength of bell stroke desired.

Shaft 35 has secured thereto a bail ill, which may be made of strongwire or rod and which is in general of U-form, the arms of said bailbeing passed through and se cured in openings in the ends of the shaft.This bail forms an operating connection from the mechanism in cavity 2to the hammer or clapper 30.

Vithin the cavity 2 is located an electromagnet so arranged as to becapable of actuating the bell hammer when energized by current passingthrough its coil. Said electromagnet is preferably so constructed andits coil is so wound as to be capable of operation upon eitheralternating current circuits of relatively high voltage or upon"directcurrent circuits. As illustrated, the electromagnet comprises a coil 4:2wound about one of the legs or poles 43 of a magnet core whose other legis indicated at 44'. The magnet core shown is of U-form, its legs 43 andist and base Ll5 being integral with each other and being made up inlaminated form as shown in Fig. 11 to reduce eddy current effects andenable the coil to lie indefinitely on closed circuit without undueheatinfr.

The laminations of the core are held together and to the bell casing orbox by a supporting frame 46. Said supporting frame comprises two likeside members provided with ears l? through which screws i721 are passedinto the bell casing, while the laminations of the core are securedbetween the side meinbers of the frame by rivets 48.

The side members of the magnet frame loe l holtl;

1?, der; eee

are held3 together by cross baro'r member 49; the joint between. saidframe' member and said cross bar being of peculiarr forni; As indicatedin Figs. l2 and lil' each side frame membernear the' o'ut'erend; of itsleg is provided' with corner notches 56 and between the saine and at ai.lower level withk an opening 5l. The cross bars/t9 is blanlied outso'as to provide at cach end a pair of short tongues 52' extendingbeyond theshoulder 53, and between said tongues with a longer to11guei54whose outer end is depressed below the body of the bar. The twov frameparts are assembled by passingthe tonguesft of a cross bar througli theopenings 51 in the.

frame parts and with tongues 52 entering the notches 50 until theshoulders 53 abut the side frame parts'. While holding the parts in thisposition the endsof the'longer toirgues't arel bent over as shown at 55Fig. l2, thereby firmly and solidlyy uniting the parts, but permittinga' slight 'amount of yield so that the frame readily accon'imordatesitself to the laminations which it is to The projecting legs of the sideframe parts serve as supportsfor an arn'xature arm',l for which purpose'rthey are provided with elongated openings 56. The' armature armcomprises a metal strap 57 bent into' U-form andy having an armatureportion 58tor1ned by securing between the arms of said a series of;laminations. Atthe ylower end of said a'rinature is cross pin 59 whoseopposite ends extend through the elongatedopenings 56. Tl-ieup'p'er kendof the U-frame of the" armature arm indicated at 60 lies opposite andbehindt'helbail 41 of the bell"-cla-p`-y er. f

As' 'willl be 'observed thel legs or poles of the magnet core lieperpendicular to the frontwall or base of the' bell casing, while theneutral portion l5 of the core lies para] lel thereto. The magnet coreis therefore located in an efficient position as regards concentrationof the magnetic flux, so that leakage of magnetism to surrounding massesof metal is reduced or minimized. At each energization of theelectromagnet by passing current through its coil the armature 58 isattracted and swings to the left in Fig. l from the dotted line to thefull line position, the upper end of saidv armature arm cooperating withthe clapper bail to throw the clapper upwardly and engage the gong. Pin59 has loose sliding motion horizontally in the elongated slots 56, sothat the lower end of the armature invariably settles with full contactagainst the lower pole or leg of the core. When the core is(ie-energized, however, the armature swings outwardly away from thecore, due to the weight of the clappela and the pin 59 moves outwardlyin the slots 56.

Preferably the armature is so arranged cated at 60a, ir'mly secured tothe laminaf tions of the armatui-e in intimate electrical contacttherewith. The atta'c-lnnent is'pref'- erably madeby a weldingoperatioii, such as by holding small pieces of phosphor bronzemetalagainst the laminations of the armature and welding the samethereto by afn acetylene or` oXy-hydrogen Hanna` atter which thecontacts are grou-nd or filed 'of'to a fiat contacting surface. 'Onitsbacklwa-rd movement the armature arm swings tof the right ifnFig.- l,whilefthe'clapper or llammer drops. To deaden the sound the casing wallmay be provided with a cavi-ty to receive a felt cushion 61 against'which the h'amni'er seats in its retracted position.

Thebell may also be provided with' means for limiting outward movementof tliearmature away from itsy coil, to' prevent said armature frommoving to afpositi'on beyond the ei'ective pull ofthe co-il. This resultmay be accomplished by securing beneath the screwst` a metal strip 62whose lower end serves as a stop or abutment for the arniature member57. The outward swing of thearmature arm can be readily adjusted bybending this metal stiipinwardly' or out wardlyyasV shown bytfliedottedlinesfFig. l.

The electrical connections to the coil are preferably so arranged thatthe wiring to the shallow base 6 or junction boX 7 can be firstcompleted and the electrical connection to the coil is thereafter madeby merely attaching the bell casing with the mechanism therein directlyto the base or junction box. For this purpose the bell casing isprovided at suitable places in its cavity 2, for example one on eitherside of the magnet frame, with compression contacts 65, from each ofwhich contacts a wire leads to the magnet coil, said contacts beingmounted on brackets 69. One of said contacts is shown in detail in Fig.14. It comprises a tubular base 66 of insulating material in which islocated a plunger 67 pressed outwardly by a spring 68. Said spring seatsagainst a conducting base 70 connected by the lead wire 7l to the coil.Plunger 67 normally extends slightly beyond the Y edge of the wall offlange 5. Similar compression contacts 72 are located within the conduitbox 7 or shal- 5 bell casing to the base or conduit box completes theelectrical circuits. The contacts in the shallow base may be simpleresilient spring strips, as shown at 72a, Fig. 2.

Then a shallow base is used the lead wires running to the compressioncontacts therein are passed through the openings 16, after which thecavity in said base is lled with wax or similar easily melted insulatingmaterial, as at 7 3, Fig. 2, which not only secures the lead wires inplace but also seals the openings 16 against the entrance of moisture.

IVhen the circuit connections pass directly through the coil the bell iswhat is known as a single stroke bell and produces a single stroke ofthe gong each time the circuit is completed, the hammer dropping backwhen the circuit is broken. Under some circum stances vibrating action,or in other words, rapidly repeated bell strokes are desirable. For thispurpose the bell mechanism may be provided with contact mechanism in thebell circuit actuated by movement of the armature arm, so as to rapidlymake and break the circuit. As illustrated the frame bridge member L19may serve to support an insulating block 7 5 secured thereto by screw76. In a recess of said block is secured a spring metal strip 76 havinga contact 77 cooperating with a contact 7 S on an insulating block 79carried by the armature arm. The contacts 77, 7 8 are included in thecircuit to the coil by running one of the wires from the compressioncontact 65 to the strip 76 and from the contactl 7S to the coil. Springarm 76 is bent so that by its own resiliency it has a tendency to followthe armature arm in its movements. Indeed, were the armature arm movedslowly to the left in Fig. 1 contacts 77, 78 would not immediatelyseparate. However, when the coil is energized the armature arm moves tothe left very rapidly and at a speed faster than the spring arm 76.Therefore, the circuit is quickly broken. The rebound of the hammer fromthe vibrating gong throws the armature arm back again so that thearmature contact 78 meets the approaching spring contact 77 therebyagain completing the circuit and producing another action. Thisarrangement is found to produce very rapid vibrat ing action withoutchatter. Spring contact arm 76 may be reinforced to increase its resiliency by a supplemental backing spring 80, although this is notessential.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A magnet core frame, comprising parallel side members, a cross bridgemember connecting the same, and interlocking projections connecting saidmembers.

2. A magnet core frame, comprising paral lel side members, and a crossbridge member connecting the same, each member being provided with atongue and with a recess to receive an interlocking tongue of theadjoining member. i

3. A magnet core frame, comprising parallel side members, a cross bridgemember connecting the same, each member being provided with a tongue andwith a recess to receive an interlocking tongue of the adjoining member,the side frame members being provided with openings, and the bridgemember having depressed tongues passing through said openings and bentlaterally beyond the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LOUIS E. RICHMOND.

